Project
Le Bol is a food cooperation center operating in the Metropolitan area of Lyon. It includes around thirty members such as associations, companies and research centers involved in food relocation (CSR networks, university caterers/restaurants etc.).
The objective is to highlight common challenges, and in particular to facilitate the supply of local products, raise awareness among the general public, create skills transfers and pool services.
Le Bol organizes an annual event on the banks of the Rhône: The Harvest Festival. This event hosts stands with entertainment and music. Its purpose is to promote local actors and show the alternatives that exist in the region. Le Bol carries out numerous actions aimed at developing cooperation between its member structures in order to build a local, united and ecological agro-food system.
Context
The initial structure began in 2014, thanks to funding from the City of Lyon and support from the Metropolitan Center. Two initiatives developed respectively in 2009 and 2014, the “Pole of Initiatives for Territorial Food Relocation” (PIRAT) and the “Territorial Pole of Agri-Alim Economic Cooperation” to establish a unified partnership of food structures of Social and Solidarity Economy of the Lyon region. The project has brought together a group of actors who have taken advantage of the momentum to affirm their willingness to work together on shared issues.
Project leaders
The Bol association has a decision-making body which meets every two months and is open to all members. It is organized horizontally. The purpose of this new mode of governance is to encourage the involvement of Bol members in the organization of the structure and the emergence of new cooperation projects and to cultivate a coherent whole with the values inherent to the project.
The Little Extra
The association organizes “Coup d'bol” aperitifs (films, free discussion or meetings) in order to promote the exchange of ideas, the dissemination of information as well as cooperation between complementary actors. A "training circle" has also been created with the aim of identifying training offers from member structures of the Bol.
Written by Alice Deshons, LFC volunteer - May 2019.
Last modification : 30 Mar 2020.
Le Bol
Founded in 2015, the Bol is a cooperation centre bringing together around thirty Social and Solidarity Economy structures working for food relocation.